20190123 backpedal

1. 这是个什么词？

词：backpedal

英英释义：to change your opinion or not do something that you had promised to do

例句：The product manager quickly backpedaled when asked to explain his proposal in detail.

2. 为什么选这个词？

“backpedal”是个非常形象的动词，本意是“倒踩自行车的脚蹬”，常常引申表示“撤回”。它后面一般搭配介词 on, 介词后接表示某个观点、计划、建议、决定、承诺、条款等的词，是用在写作中让读者眼前一亮的好词。

一些美国政客的竞选立场摇摆不定。比如有些人为了迎合大众支持实施减税政策，过了一段时间又决定撤销，这时就可以说：

US politicians are backpedaling on the commitment to cut taxes.

这里 backpedal on 接的是“承诺”（commitment）。

再来看一个接决定（decision）的例句：

Under huge pressure from the public, local authorities backpedaled on their decision to open a chemical factory.

backpedal 在有的语境中还相当于“收回某人的话/take one's words back”，比如：

The product manager quickly backpedaled when asked to explain his proposal in detail.

backpedal 还有一个常见的同义词 backtrack，意义和用法都很相似，很多时候都可以互相替换。《经济学人》在 2016 年一篇报道总统竞选的文章中就用到了 backtrack：

“I didn’t mean to attack people in New York. I love New York.” Ted Cruz, campaigning in New York, backtracks from his sneering comments about “New York values”.

3. 怎样学会使用这个词？

1）翻译下面的句子：

在意大利时装品牌 Dolce & Gabbana 发布自己饱受争议的粗俗广告后，很多中国艺人决定不再和它合作。

After Italian fashion brand Dolce&Gabbana published a highly controversial and offensive advertisement, many Chinese actors started to backpedal on their partnership with it.

（参考翻译：After Italian fashion brand Dolce & Gabbana published a highly controversial and offensive advertisement, many Chinese actors started to backpedal on their partnership with it.)

2）结合自己的生活、学习、工作、兴趣等，想象在什么语境下会用到这个表达。先简要描述这个场景，再造句。

例子： 在受到一系列公众的严厉指责之后，他收回了他所说的话。

场景 ： In the wake of a series of severe criticism from the public, he backpedaled on what he had said.